Evelyn Mason Wells: The Fruit of Kindness
This week’s study is concentrating on kindness. Thank you for joining me, as we explore God’s word. I pray it will be a blessing to you.
“Would you be so kind as to give us a drink of water from your well?”
My mother passed down a story told by her grandmother, who grew up on a farm located on a dusty, rural road. At that time, a good many people walked wherever they went, since they did not have access to any type of transportation.
One hot summer day a family, traveling by foot, stopped by my great-grandparents’ farm for a drink of well water. They were welcomed and were offered not only water but lemonade, as well. They were also given food, which they ate while resting in the shade of a big elm tree. When this family left, they did not leave empty-handed. They were sent on their way with a container of cool water and the remainder of the food which had been served to them, which enabled them to be refreshed as they continued their journey.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
~Hebrews 13:2 NIV
Only God knows the eternal consequences of my great-grandmother’s kind act. What if she had looked at the travelers and decided not to offer refreshments to them? However, she did not turn these strangers away and, in the process, showed her children and grandchildren what kindness looks like.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
~Proverbs 31:26 ESV
When I was a child, my siblings and I were encouraged by our parents and our teachers to be kind in whatever situation we found ourselves. The days of my great-grandparents are now long-gone. In the society in which we now live, we are not likely to invite perfect strangers into our backyards and serve them refreshments. But we can be kind to those we encounter daily. Kindness reveals character.
Parents can encourage kindness in their children by speaking positively about others. Do we build others up, or do we bring them down with the words we speak? It is important to speak kindly about others rather than to say unkind things about them. Children learn to gossip when they hear unkindness in the words of their parents and other adults. As we speak kindly of others, we are teaching our children to love people without them even realizing it. Our goal should be to teach them to speak words of hope and encouragement to and about others.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
~Galatians 5:22-23a CEB
The opportunities for us to exhibit kindness present themselves every day. I have listed several situations below, and I am sure you can add additional ways to bless others, as you show kindness to them:
Grocery store checkout lines are frustrating to me because I usually get in the line where price checks and other delays are played out. This is my opportunity to let everyone around me know just how busy I am, that I absolutely do not have time for this. On the other hand, I can use this opportunity to notice the people in front of me and behind me and offer them a smile or a kind word.
At church, we have many opportunities to welcome visitors. For instance, when someone is sitting alone, we can introduce ourselves and sit with them during the service. A number of years ago I had accepted a position in a church, where I knew no one who attended. The Pastor had asked that I be in attendance the Sunday before I was to come on staff. He wanted to introduce me to the congregation. Almost as soon as I got there, a lady sat down on the pew beside me and introduced herself. I’ll never forget the kindness she showed me that day.
As we intentionally look for ways to be a blessing to others, we learn that we receive a blessing ourselves. We can show kindness to everyone, no matter the situation. We can be ready to forgive others, just as God has forgiven us. When we are intentional in exhibiting the Fruit of Kindness in our daily lives, our walk with God will surely be enhanced.
The opportunities for us to exhibit kindness present themselves every day. #VineWords #thefruitofkindness @venable_wells Click To TweetWhat ways can you show kindness this week?
Father God, please reveal Your great love for us, as we call upon You. Show us how to share this love with others, as Jesus did while He lived here on earth. I also pray for the ones reading this Bible study, who do not know You as Savior and Lord. Please draw them to You, and guide them into repentance and salvation. For Your glory, I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Meet Our Contributor
EVELYN MASON WELLS
Evelyn Mason Wells is an award-winning author who has contributed to Heart Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character (2019 Selah finalist, Lighthouse Bible Studies), Glimmers of Heavenly Light (Faith Books & More), Let the Earth Rejoice (Worthy Inspired), Breaking the Chains (2018 Selah finalist, Lighthouse Bible Studies), Just Breathe (Worthy/Ellie Claire), and Feed Your Soul with the Word of God (Lighthouse Bible Studies).
Find her articles/devotions at Refresh Bible Study Magazine and Christian Broadcasting Network.
Evelyn is an Editor, Bible study writer, and devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More. She is a contributing author to Love Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships (VineWords Publishing).
Passionate about glorifying God through her writing and speaking, Evelyn enjoys spending time on short-term mission trips, both domestic and foreign. She was recently blessed with an opportunity to speak/minister in Uganda.
Evelyn loves attending Bible Studies, spiritual retreats, and having good conversation with friends over lunch or a glass of tea. She is also an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves. Evelyn enjoys good books, her cats, traveling, and especially spending time with her family.
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Thank you, J.D. for your kind words. Showing kindness during a bad day is turning out to be an amazing blessing to me. You are so right in that our kindness has the power to make a difference in the lives of others. And we never know when we are entertaining an angel! Your adopted mama was a wise lady!
Lovely post on kindness, Evelyn. My great-grandparents were like yours, always inviting strangers in to dinner as they traveled down dusty country roads on horseback. Even during the Great Depression, my grandmother would feed strangers who knocked at her door in the city–she’d make a fried egg sandwich and give them a cup of coffee. God repays our kindness to others. Thanks for the reminder.
What a heritage we and so many others have, Karen. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it. We had people from time to time traveling on foot who would stop by our farm for a drink of our wonderful well water. Mother always made them feel at home! You are so right about God repaying our kindness!
Evelyn, I love the story of sharing well water and much more. Your post is a breath of fresh air in these times. Kindness is a blessing to the giver and the recipient. Thank you.
Thanks, Jeannie. They belong to you, too! I wish we could have gotten to know some of these people we only heard about. It always pays to repay kindness. We receive the greater blessing.
Evelyn, love this story about showing kindness and also about sharing what we have with others. Inspiring words.
Glenda, thanks for reading my Bible study. We do always reap blessings from showing kindness to others.
Thank you, Evelyn, for reminding us about the spiritual fruit of kindness. I remember years ago, when my husband and I were just starting out, I went to the store with coupons and was getting a two-for-one butter item. An elderly lady came to the same shelf and asked me to reach the butter for her. There were only two butters on the shelf, so I got the butter and gave her the coupon. It felt so good to bless her with the coupon. I planned on returning later to see if the store had restocked. When I came home, my mother was there with two bags of groceries. On the very top of the first bag, was butter. God repaid my kindness by my mother’s kindness. I have always remembered this. It showed me God repays kindness, so we can be a blessing and still know our needs will be met.
Thank you for sharing your story about how you were blessed because of your kindness to the elderly lady. I love hearing these stories! Thank you for all your support and help!
Once masks became essential wear, it became clear how much I relied on, and appreciated seeing people’s faces. Whether to read lips, measure reaction or gauge emotion, so much communication happens in non-verbal exchanges like a knowing glance or a smile. It’s something so little, but translates powerfully, and it means so much. Thanks for the reminder to be kind and show hospitality.
I really miss seeing and experiencing the smiles of others. But I have had the privilege of seeing “smiling eyes” as I’m sure you have, too. It is good to reflect on how we can bless others with kindness. We never know when we have made an eternal difference to someone. Thank you for reading my Bible study.
What a great story, Evelyn! Thank you for sharing. I wish we could all be like your great-grandmother.
Thank you, Stephanie. Although I never knew her, I think my mother was like her. She always showed such wonderful hospitality to those who visited. When I think of the word, kind, I think of Mother. I appreciate your kind words and your help!
Thank you, Evelyn, we all need to be kinder especially during these tough times!
Yes, kindness goes a long way during our current way of life.
Thanks for the encouraging word, Evelyn.
Thank you, Martin. I’m glad you were encouraged!
It takes so little to show kindness to another, yet it has the power to turn someone’s day completely around. Hebrews 13:2 was a verse my adopted mama used to share with me all the time. I don’t think that little woman ever met a stranger in her life. “Greet the world with a smile and kindness, for you never know when you might just be entertaining an Angel.” I remember those words each time I’m standing in line, being inconvenienced or when I meet a new person. Of course, my favorite time to be kind is when I’m having a rotten day. The reward God gives us when we show kindness to others instantly makes our day better. How can God come near and give us a “heart hug” and we not smile? 🙂 Thank you for your wonderfully warm reminder of this fact ma’am.
Thank you, J.D. for your kind words. Your adopted mama was a wise lady. She is so right – we never know when we are entertaining angels. I agree with you that our kindness can turn someone’s day around. What a privilege to be a blessing to others!